What are your feelings on the Packers keeping Jermichael Finley? Over the last two seasons, he has 116 receptions for 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is schedule to make $4.45 million this season, with a bonus of $3.5 million due in March.

I think I'd rather he restructure a long deal that puts him around the $4-5 million per year range. Long range as in 3 or 4 year deal with incentives.

If he is willing to restructure I say they can't loose. I can not imagine he or his agent are willing to swallow their pride and take the pay cut. I am sure they think there is 10 teams out there just begging JerMike to come and play for them for a ton-o-dough.

Finley had a nice final month of the season, so I understand arguments from both sides.

Nevertheless, I think it's time to phase out the last four years in favor of James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and an improving running game. Finley is an underachiever. It is what it is. I wish he'd fulfill his potential, but the Packers have other priorities. It starts with locking up Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji. I’d also rather hang onto Charles Woodson, who I think is more important to the defense (not to mention locker room) than Finley is right now.

I love the idea of a long term deal around $5 million. It's not going to happen. I think Finley and his verbose agent view $6.5 million as the floor. I would be fine with that... if Jermichael Finley were a true TE.

The problem as I see it, is Finley is not a good receiving TE when he is lined up inline. He's not a good blocker regardless of where you start him. (Add those last two together and you have a TE who is ineffective as an inline TE) What you have, is an over-sized WR. I just don't see the value in paying the money it will take to keep him for what he really brings to the table. If he could play inline, then you keep him at top TE money. Maybe - over time - Finley becomes an inline TE, but it's hard to ignore his past attitude about it.

Here is what he said in 2011, “I’m thinner right now. Green Bay probably not like me right now but I’m trying to stand up this year. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I think a two-point, I can get on the linebacker quicker, I can get on the safety quicker and it’s a win-win for me and 12 .”“Standing up, I think that’s the best position for me,” he said.

Asked if the coaches are comfortable with that, Finley replied, “They’re going to be comfortable with it.”“We’ve got tons of guys (who can block), to tell you the truth and we drafted two of them. We drafted two tight ends this year.”

And then of course, there was this... “The next step is take my game to the next level. Detail everything, and just play my ball. I feel like I’ve been playing like a robot lately. I just need to get out there and freestyle it.”

I love the idea of a long term deal around $5 million. It's not going to happen. I think Finley and his verbose agent view $6.5 million as the floor. I would be fine with that... if Jermichael Finley were a true TE.

Agreed. He is a decent player but way overpaid this year for his current contract. He is a $5m/year player but I don't see many players are going to take that kind of pay cut.

Count this as one of general manager Ted Thompson's most difficult decisions this spring. By releasing or trading Finley, the Packers save $8.25 million. He's due a $3 million bonus in March. Yet this is also a young, athletic, physical specimen that's rare for the position. If the Packers let the 25-year-old walk - without a proven replacement in house - they might regret it.

I appreciate what Finley brought to our team, but I don't think he is a good fit here. I would draft a TE, and add another via FA, and let Finley go. He's not dedicated enough for the team, just for himself. He wasted half a season wanting to freelance.

The guy doesn't block for anything, and seems out of control most times after the catch. Route running is suspect, as are his hands. How is a guy with his intangibles not on the same page with his QB? That's just not very smart.

My wish would be that they could trade him and replace him with a more dedicated player. Whether that be with another vet or the draft I makes no difference. He's going to be earning "prime time" money and he has not shown he is a consistent "prime time" player, or the attitude needed to become one.

I appreciate what Finley brought to our team, but I don't think he is a good fit here. I would draft a TE, and add another via FA, and let Finley go. He's not dedicated enough for the team, just for himself. He wasted half a season wanting to freelance.

The guy doesn't block for anything, and seems out of control most times after the catch. Route running is suspect, as are his hands. How is a guy with his intangibles not on the same page with his QB? That's just not very smart.

For whatever reason, he hasn't maximized his potential based upon his natural skill set.

Let's see if Ted can find somebody. We still got Quarless and some young guys at the position who may develop.

With the way Jermichael Finley has been talking about wanting to be a Packer for life, why not take the chance and try to restructure for a little less money?

With the departure of Jennings about to happen, it makes Jermichael Finley 1000x more important to this offense.

Here's Jlapp's post from the beta site.

Jlapp said:

Because he is probably only worth like $5m/year and scheduled to make almost $9m. I think the number of NFL players that would take a 40% reduction when signing an extension are close to zero. To get him to sign an extension packers would probably have to pay around $7m/year average which I don't think is worth it.

I find it interesting that Tony Gonzalez signed a two year deal with a cap hit $3M less than what Finley's cap savings would be if he were to be released. With his signing bonus on the new deal, he still makes $1.5M less than Finely in 2013.

Unreal.

"The Atlanta Falcons made the contract of tight end Tony Gonzalez as salary-cap friendly as possible with a little creative accounting.

Although Gonzalez will make $7 million this season, his salary-cap figure will be only $5.25 million. That’s because the Falcons structured the deal with what is known as “OATSB’’ (other amount treated as signing bonus).

Gonzalez will receive $3.5 million in base salary and another $3.5 million that will treated as OATSB. That portion becomes prorated with $1.75 million counting toward this year’s cap and another $1.75 million counting toward the 2014 cap."http://espn.go.com/blog/...rafty-with-gonzalez-deal

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